Michael Moore Traps O'Reilly in a Catch-22
Reported by Marie Therese - July 28, 2004 -
Catch-22 as outlined by Joseph Heller in his anti-war novel of the same name is a darkly humorous take on the classic double-bind. The following is excerpted from Free Definition:
One may only be excused from flying bombing missions on the grounds of insanity;
One must request to be excused;
One who requests to be excused is presumably in fear for his life. This is taken to be proof of his sanity, and he is therefore obliged to continue flying missions;
One who is truly insane presumably would not make the request. He therefore would continue flying missions, even though as an insane person he could be excused from them for the asking.
On The O'Reilly Factor last night (July 27, 2004), Michael Moore caught Bill O'Reilly in a catch-22:
Here's a paraphrase:
O'Reilly: The war in Iraq was worth fighting because we removed a terrible dictator. President Bush may have made a mistake with the war but he shouldn't be held responsible because it was based on bad intelligence.
Moore: Would you send one of your kids to fight for Fallujah?
O'Reilly: I'd send myself.
Moore: You and I are too old. They won't take us. Would you send one of your own kids?
O'Reilly can't answer.
Moore: Would you send someone else's kids?
O'Reilly can't answer.
Beautiful job, Mike! Way to go!
